St. Paul daily globe., 1887-11-18
The Unitarians Continue the
Session of Their Confer
enee--Offe srs Selected.
Judge Collins First Day On
the State Supreme Court
Beneh--Coupt Notes.
Summary Of the News of One
Day Gathered From
Many Sources.
SHALL THE JAIL BE IN TOWN?
A Difference of Opinion as to the
Desirability of Locating it Near
the Court House.


Desirability of Locating it Near
the Court House.
The selection of a site for the new
county and city Jail, which is now i'll
the hands of the county commissioners,
is the subject of considerable discus
sion. The bill which was drawn up by
the local legislative committee and
passed the last legislature, provides for
the appropriation of 100000 to Dur
chase a site. The OriginatOrS of the
bill, in providing this sum. had partic-
ular reference to the purchase of the
ground lying Oh one of three corners of
Cedar and Fifth streets, which could be
connected with the new court
house by subway. These sites
have been offered to the county
commissioners at prices ranging
from $4,000 to SS9.000. and the cOmmlS-
sionerS have also received offers of diff
ferent sites in other and more suburban
portions of the city, some of them for as
little as $4,000. There are economists
who figure that it would be better to To-
cate upon the cheapest site, and reserve
the bulk of the appropriation of 100000
for the erection of the building. Others
think there is room enough on the Fifth
street side of the court house block to
erect large enough Jail building with
out going outside to buy new land. A
few expressions of opinion were noted
by GLOBE reporter yesterday.
A FEW OPINIONS.
W. p. Murray am of the opinion
that site selected for the Jail should be
upon one of the corners of Fifth and
Cedar streets, where we can have sub
ways running into the court house; but
if the commissioners think it should go
somewhere else, and we are compelled
to have transportation by 'Black
Marias," and all that, it makes very lit
tie difference where it does go. Prob
ably on the upper levee, or away out in
the suburbs would be good enough, for
if we take it away from where a sub
way connection can be had, then we
want to buy cheap lot, one not to cost
more than $4,000, and the other $4,000
might be expended. after legislation, in
the erection of building.
Aid. c. ID. Kerr-We want jail that
will be permanent, and that will be an
ornament TO the city, and | think the
only place to build it is on one of those
three corners opposite the court house,
where prisoners can be transferred
with some safety. If it is question of
economy, those locations at any price
are cheapest. In transferring prisoners
through the streets of city the pas
SiOnS of men are excited in two ways
to rescue them and to lynch them.
City Treasurer George Reis-The
prices asked for those corners next the
jail are altogether too high, and if they
cannot be purchased cheaper the COM
IhissiOners should select site further
away. If there is room on the court
house block l don't think it would do
any harm to erect compact and Orna-
mental building right there.
Aid. John DOwlan-They are going to
build an engine house on the same
block with the court house, and | don't
see any reason why they can't build the
Jail there at the same time.
H. F. Stevens-It would be a miSera-
bic desecratiOn to put the Jail on the
same block with the court house, or
anywhere near 1t. The Jail should be
out of sight from magnificent public
building like our court house.